ELEMENTARY QUALIFICATION RESULTS

While many students may benefit from specialized support, LISD's Gifted & Talented (G/T) Services are designed for students who have a demonstrated need for them through data collection and testing.

Performance on district-provided standardized aptitude and achievement tests, as well as G/T characteristic scales, planned learning experiences, classroom observations, and student work samples are evaluated by the District Review Committee. The committee meets approximately once per nine weeks and is comprised of both campus and district personnel who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted learners.

Students who qualify for G/T services remain in a general education classroom. Teachers have advanced training in the needs of gifted students and collaborate with campus G/T Facilitators to provide enrichment and differentiation in the classroom. They are responsible for ensuring mastery of all grade-level standards and regularly collaborating with the campus G/T Facilitator to ensure challenging opportunities are provided for each G/T student through differentiated classroom instruction.

Depending on the strengths of a student and the curriculum focus, teachers may incorporate depth, complexity, and/or novelty into lessons to provide adequate challenge. When appropriate, differentiation may included curriculum compacting, readiness groups, tiered activities (different levels of difficulty), higher-level questioning, individualized experiences, or multiple options to complete an assignment.

Beginning 2nd semester in grade 2, identified students receive additional pull-out services provided by the campus G/T Facilitator. These services are intended to help students understand themselves as learners and thinkers, while simultaneously developing their potential through open-ended exploration.

Elementary G/T curriculum is not accelerated content area learning. It is focused on developing the seven capacities below:

• Leadership
• Creativity
• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Self-awareness
• Research
• Communication

A personalized service plan is developed for all students who qualify for G/T services in LISD. The plan includes student goals, both academic and social/emotional, that are monitored throughout the school year. The specific services each identified gifted and talented student receives may vary depending on placement recommendations and emerging educational, social, and emotional needs.

In order to support the continued growth of gifted students, parents are encouraged to...

• Foster independence in learning.

• Nurture interests and provide opportunities for exploration.

• Keep a positive attitude about school.

• Monitor emotional well-being.

• Support development of time management.

• Foster connections between schoolwork and interests.

• Emphasize effort and progress rather than perfection.

• Show how mistakes can be opportunities to discover and learn.

• Model positive ways to address setbacks and solve problems.

• Encourage productive struggle, time to work things out independently.

Students may only be assessed for gifted/talented services once every 12 months. It is important to consider a student’s social-emotional well-being when referring a student multiple times throughout the elementary years.

The child’s instructional needs and response to the testing process, including the possibility of not qualifying, should be carefully considered. Students often internalize repeated testing as failure when they do not fully understand the purpose of the assessment process.

Eligibility is based on district-provided assessments administered through LISD’s identification process. Private or outside testing is not included in eligibility decisions.

We strive to identify and engage a diverse population of gifted/talented students, build relationships that support student growth, ignite within students a desire for learning, and provide services and supports to meet students' unique social-emotional and educational needs every day.

Elementary Contact

Koby Stringer, Elementary Gifted & Talented Services Administrator

Email: stringerk@lisd.net
Website: https://www.lisd.net/gt
Location: 1565 West Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067, USA
Phone: 469-948-8054
Twitter: @LISD_GT